How would consolidation affect property taxes?
Under consolidation, in the short-term, taxes would stay largely the same in Westfield and increase slightly in Montello. However, because of how the state funds schools, if the districts did not consolidate, both would need to consider options for survival that would include significantly raising taxes, making deep cuts to programs and staff, and/or, in Westfield’s case, closing more schools. The Montello School District’s tax rate is expected to be $8.16 this year and $8.60 in 2011-12. The Westfield School District’s tax rate is expected to be $8.74 this year and $9.19 in 2011-12. If consolidation were to take place, the tax rate of the consolidated district would be $8.99 beginning in 2011-12. In the long term, if the consolidation referendum does not pass, the Westfield and Montello school districts will almost certainly need to independently pass operational referenda, which will almost certainly lead to the tax rate increasing beyond what it would for a consolidated district. Bot
